U.S. Customs and Border Protection Selects Avaya Solution to Support its Homeland Security Mission

U.S. Customs and Border Protection Selects Avaya Solution to Support its Homeland Security Mission - IP telephony securely links headquarters with branch office, improves business continuity and disaster recovery capabilities BASKING RIDGE, N.J., Jan. 24 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the organization responsible for protecting the nation's borders and ports of entry, is now supporting its homeland security mission with a secure, survivable communications solution from Avaya (NYSE:AV), a leading global provider of business communications software, systems and services. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., Customs and Border Protection (CBP) improved its ability to respond to emergency conditions with a new Internet protocol (IP)-based Avaya network. The solution is expected to save the organization thousands of dollars a year over its previous telephony service. With the new private network in place, CBP now can share information more securely among the offices. Also, the new system enhances continuity of operations since it is designed so that each site can operate independently. Avaya Communication Manager software -- Avaya's flagship telephony application -- delivers a wide range of communications services at Customs and Border Protection's headquarters -- including on-demand conferencing and accessibility features for people with speech and hearing impairments. An Extension to Cellular application bridges calls made to an office number to a cell phone to keep the organization's mobile workforce in touch regardless of where their responsibilities take them. A pair of Avaya S8700 Media Servers hosts the Avaya Communication Manager software, improving the continuity of the organization's operations by mirroring ongoing network information and activity. For centralized management and improved security, the new network links Customs and Border Protection's headquarters with an existing Avaya IP telephony network at a D.C. branch office. A local survivable processor enables the branch location to operate independently in the event of a disaster. Since the public switched telephone network and local cellular networks can experience traffic overloads during public emergencies, the agency uses IP trunking to link the two sites. Industry-certified consultants from Avaya Global Services conducted a security assessment prior to the launch of the new network and developed the architecture, policies and protocols to mitigate against intrusions and disruptions and help provide continuous communications. Avaya Access Security Gateways authenticate the identity of those who attempt to access to Customs and Border Patrol network, and built-in voice encryption protects voice packets. Today, Avaya is one of the only vendors that encrypts all Internet telephony calls using the industry-standard Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) algorithm. Avaya has more than 80 technicians in the Washington, D.C. area with the security clearances required to work in sensitive government facilities. An Avaya customer action team for the Department of Homeland Security expedited the installation and delivered equipment within days of the order being placed. About Avaya Avaya Inc. designs, builds and manages communications networks for more than 1 million businesses worldwide, including over 90 percent of the FORTUNE 500(R). Focused on businesses large to small, Avaya is a world leader in secure and reliable Internet Protocol (IP) telephony systems and communications software applications and services. Driving the convergence of voice and data communications with business applications -- and distinguished by comprehensive worldwide services -- Avaya helps customers leverage existing and new networks to achieve superior business results. For more information visit the Avaya website: http://www.avaya.com/. Source: Avaya Inc. CONTACT: Media, Deb Kline, +1-908-953-6179, klined@avaya.com; or Investors, Matt Booher, +1-908-953-7500, mbooher@avaya.com, both of Avaya Web site: http://www.avaya.com/ ------- Profile: International Entertainment